Israel Wood Powell
Encyclopedia
Israel Wood Powell was a doctor, businessman and politician in British Columbia
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island
from 1863 to 1866.
He was born in Colborne, Norfolk County
, Upper Canada
, the son of Israel Wood Powell
and Melinda Boss. His brother Walker
later served in the legislative assembly for the Province of Canada. Powell was educated in Port Dover
and at McGill University
, where he studied medicine. He set up practice in Port Dover, moving to Victoria, British Columbia
in 1862. Powell was surgeon for the local fire department and also served in the militia. He was also a founding member of a freemason lodge there and later served as provincial grand master. Powell was elected to the House of Assembly of Vancouver Island in 1863; he was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1866 and again in 1868. He served as chairman of the General Board of Education from 1867 to 1869. In 1865, he married Jane "Jennie" Brank. He was a supporter of union with Canada and was named superintendent of Indian affairs after British Columbia became part of Canada in 1871, serving in that post until 1889. In 1886, Powell became the first president of the Medical Council of British Columbia. He was also the first chancellor for the University of British Columbia
. Powell died in Victoria at the age of 78.
A number of geographical features of British Columbia, including Powell River
and Powell Lake
, were named in his honour.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island
Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island
The Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island was the colonial parliamentary body that was elected to represent voters in the Colony of Vancouver Island. It was created in 1856 after a series of petitions were sent to the colonial office in London protesting the Hudson’s Bay Company’s proprietary...
from 1863 to 1866.
He was born in Colborne, Norfolk County
Norfolk County, Ontario
Norfolk County is a rural city-status single-tier municipality on the north shore of Lake Erie in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Bloomsburg is a small town located in Norfolk County and is the hometown of David Slater. The county seat and largest community is Simcoe...
, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
, the son of Israel Wood Powell
Israel Wood Powell (Ontario politician)
Israel Wood Powell was a merchant, land surveyor and political figure in Canada West. He represented Norfolk in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1841 to 1848....
and Melinda Boss. His brother Walker
Walker Powell
Walker Powell was a Canadian businessman, militia officer and political figure.He was born in Waterford, Upper Canada in 1828, the son of Israel Wood Powell, studied at Victoria College in Cobourg and settled in Port Dover. He served on the council for Norfolk County, becoming warden in 1856. He...
later served in the legislative assembly for the Province of Canada. Powell was educated in Port Dover
Port Dover, Ontario
Port Dover is an unincorporated community and former town located in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada on the north shore of Lake Erie.The community was the subject of an American raid during the War of 1812, on May 14, 1814....
and at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, where he studied medicine. He set up practice in Port Dover, moving to Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
in 1862. Powell was surgeon for the local fire department and also served in the militia. He was also a founding member of a freemason lodge there and later served as provincial grand master. Powell was elected to the House of Assembly of Vancouver Island in 1863; he was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1866 and again in 1868. He served as chairman of the General Board of Education from 1867 to 1869. In 1865, he married Jane "Jennie" Brank. He was a supporter of union with Canada and was named superintendent of Indian affairs after British Columbia became part of Canada in 1871, serving in that post until 1889. In 1886, Powell became the first president of the Medical Council of British Columbia. He was also the first chancellor for the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. Powell died in Victoria at the age of 78.
A number of geographical features of British Columbia, including Powell River
Powell River (British Columbia)
The Powell River is a river in the northern Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia, Canada that flows a short distance through the eponymous city of Powell River, British Columbia to enter the Strait of Georgia. At approximately 500m it is claimed to be the second shortest river.-Name...
and Powell Lake
Powell Lake
Powell Lake is a lake in the northern Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, adjacent to the city of Powell River, which sits on the low rise of land forming a natural dam between the lake and the Strait of Georgia. The lake is fed by the Powell River and features Goat Island, a large...
, were named in his honour.